Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 159

one by whom those same Gentlemen are much influenced or
in other Words that they make a Compliment of their own
Judgements to a Person of whose Understanding & qualities
they have an ill opinion, such are the Inconsistencies People
run into when prompted to write by Envy & Resentment
arising from Disappointments. Tho he has indeed always
been one of my Family yet the Footing upon which he lived
with me should one would think have protected him from the
Epithet of menial & I am confident there is not a Gentleman
in the Province acquainted with M^r Ridout who does not
condemn the Author for expressing himself after that man-
ner : he is I am satisfied well esteemed by most of the princi-
pal People in the province that know him, particularly the
Gentlemen of the Council & as he is with my Consent &
Approbation as well as with that of M^r Tasker her Grand-
father & Guardian just about to make an Alliance with the
Eldest Daughter of the late Governor Ogle They who may
have hitherto considered him as an Alien & not interested in
the prosperity of the Province will not long have an Oppor-
tunity of mentioning his Want of Connections here as either
a Fault or Misfortune. It is I find the opinion of seven Gen-
tlemen of the Council whose Sentiments I have had an
Opportunity of hearing since the Piece came out that if no
Body publishes an answer it will of Course be forgotten in a
very short time as happened to some inflammatory & scur-
rilous Papers that were published here some years ago against
Governor Ogle M^r Jennings & old M^r Dulany, & that it
would be wrong since the Lower House declined taking
notice of the Message to enter the Lists & combat about it
with an Anonymous Scribler who being unknown may throw
Dirt in the Dark without any Risk of losing his Reputation
while they are clearly of opinion that the several Messages
which passed between the two Houses in 1758 & 1762 will
sufficiently justify their Conduct in rejecting the Bill I shall
not press any one to draw up a particular answer to it but
may perhaps herewith transmit to you in a seperate Paper
what I think might be urged in Defence of the Upper House's
rejecting both the Assesment Bill & that for the Support of
an Agent, which except what relates to the Constitution of
the Upper House (concerning which I expressed my Senti-
ments in my answers to the queries) are I think the only
material Points wherein the People can be any ways inter-
ested, for as to the Claims set up by either House respecting
their several Rights powers or Priviledges the people will never
be thereby affected & what is said thereupon by the Remarker
will not I dare say have any weight with either House nor
did the Lower want such a Defender. It must perhaps be

Letter Bk. IV